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Dr. Steve Wilson Obituary

Memorial services for Dr. Steve Wilson, 69, Tyler, will be held at 2 p.m.Monday, Dec. 30, 2013 at Marvin United Methodist Church. A visitation for family and friends will follow in the Fellowship Hall. He passed away Friday, Dec. 27, 2013, after an extended illness.Doc was born March 25, 1944, at Mother Frances Hospital to Walker and Winifred Weir Wilson of Overton.

Life was a never-ending adventure for Steve. He was raised in Overton, where he was an Eagle Scout, graduated from London High School and Sam Houston State University where he graduated with both Bachelor's and Master's degrees. He graduated from Texas A&M University's School of Veterinary Medicine in 1971.

As an adult, the most important thing in Steve's life was his family. He and his wife Charlotte married in 1969 and had two daughters, Stephanie and Wendy.Another important component of his life was the family's longtime membership at Marvin United Methodist Church where he served as a Sunday school teacher. For more than 38 years Steve and Charlotte were members of the Wednesday Night Bible Study Class. Steve was also on the board of Marvin's Building Committee that planned the church's classroom and gym expansion. He also served as an usher.

After graduation from veterinary school, Doc returned to Tyler and joined the mixed animal practice at Turman-Hull (Glenwood Animal Hospital). He took ownership of the practice in 1976, and was associated with the clinic until his death.As a veterinarian, Doc received honors as both the Mixed Animal Practitioner of the Year and the Non-Traditional Species Animal Practitioner of the Year from the Texas Veterinary Medical Association.

He was the veterinarian for the East Texas State Fair from 1972 to 2012. He was active with the Smith County Rabies Clinic, which was started by his grandfather. He worked as the veterinarian for sale barns in Tyler and Jacksonville for 20 years. He also provided veterinarian services for the Smith County Sheriff's Office for many years. For the last 11 years he served as the veterinarian of the Caldwell Zoo.

Steve also was active in the community, serving on the boards of the Children's Village, Children's Village Foundation and Young Life. He was a past-president of The Woods Garden Club and The Woods Homeowner's Association. He was a cattle rancher, raising Charolais and Holstein cattle. He was an amateur auctioneer who donated his time to a number of fundraising efforts including East Texas Woods and Waters Foundation, the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Association, the Alamo, The Assistance League of San Antonio, Friends of the NRA, The American Association of Avian Veterinarians and the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who traveled throughout Texas, Alaska and Africa. Through his family, work, church and other activities, Doc also collected friends from all walks of life and from throughout the country.

Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Charlotte; daughter and son-in-law, Stephanie and David Cotton, of Tyler; daughter and son-in-law, Wendy and Jay Roten, of San Antonio; five grandchildren, Carlie and Ainsley Cotton, of Tyler, and Rylan, Parker and Blakely Roten, of San Antonio; brothers, Weir Wilson and wife Susan, of Fort Worth, and Barry Wilson and wife Pat, Bradenton, of Fla.; brother-in-law, Larry Harwood, of Tyler; niece, Carrie Wilson and Wick Pancoast; and nephew, Walker Wilson and wife Tara; great-niece and nephew, Zo and Mason Pancoast. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Children's Village, P.O. Box 6564, Tyler, 75711, or to the charity of your choice .